Day 134

Sorry for leaving you hanging last night. When I signed off, we were still locked down due to another rocket attack. The "all clear" was finally given 40 minutes after the attack...the longest since I've been here. Most are 30min or less. When we get hit, flight operations are ceased and often, I'll hear Blackhawks take off right after the attack to go do some recon. I went outside after the all clear and could see a fire burning in the distance the entire sky was filled with smoke. Clearly, they succeeded this time by hitting something. My hope and prayer immediately turned to life here on my base...I hoped it was only a building and people did not lose their lives.

I woke up this morning to the familiar sound of Skype. It's not annoying at all...very few people Skype me and any of them are welcome to wake me up early. It's always worth it. Today, it was "Dorothy." I was deep in sleep so she got the groggy, pre-espresso me. We talked for nearly an hour...just awesome to spend that time with her and wake up to her voice. We didn't do the video thing because it really hurt the audio quality. Without the video, it was very good. Afterwards, I rolled over and dug deep into my sheets and went back to sleep. It's Sunday, after all! Eventually mid-morning, I did head on in to the office and worked for about 6 hours. Usually, I'm not busy at all on Sundays but I was today. I also uploaded some photos from last night and my promotion video.  I did check on the attack last night. Turns out they destroyed a compound of one of our coalition partner's. They hit another area, too. In all, no one was killed but we did have a handful of soldiers wounded. What was truly amazing to me was that I felt it and it was on the other side of the base. I swore it was near me last night but it really wasn't. I am thankful for no casualties and thankful I was nowhere near it. "Dorothy...I'm still safe and plan to come home to you that way."

As the day ended, I stopped on the way back to my room at another cookout and goodbye to another member of our team. We said goodbye to her last night but she wanted to have her own thing. Grilled chicken and potato salad were on the menu and fairly good...but nothing like last night. They also had the best near-beer I've ever had. I had it once before on Memorial Day. Remember when I traveled the first time and arrived back here on base on Memorial Day to the sounds of a band at the USO? On that day, they were serving these green bottles of German near-beer. No, it's not the cruddy Beck's, it's St. Pauli Girl, N.A. Oh so good! For those wondering, alcohol is forbidden over here. Ever since Day 1 of combat training back in the U.S., it has been strictly forbidden because we were issued weapons and have them with us...loaded...24 hours a day. So yea, I "suppose" the rule makes sense! After the festivities, I headed on back to my room and relaxed for the remainder of the evening...watched a movie, took in some NASCAR from Michigan, and Skype'd with my parents. With that, Day 134 is sealed. Time for yet another Monday and Day 135.

Goodnight, everyone.